LAW AND ORDER

Annie M. Knott

Those who come to Christian Science usually do so in search of health, but they soon find that in order to insure its permanent possession they must attain to harmony, and in their efforts to secure this they cannot too often give heed to the familiar adage, "Order is heaven's first law." Diseases are frequently spoken of as disorders, and this is a correct designation. The healing of disease in Christian Science is therefore the restoring of order to the human mind and body by the understanding of spiritual law and its eternal order. Mrs. Eddy says that in the law of Love "nature and God are one and the natural order of heaven comes down to earth" (Science and Health, p. 118).

It is surely well worth while to pause and inquire what "the natural order of heaven" means. As we do this we instinctively recall the psalmist's words, "The heavens declare the glory of God," and we think of the law and order so gloriously expressed throughout the universe, even to the present confessedly imperfect sense of things. The Christian Scientist learns that to man is given the glory and honor of expressing the might and majesty, the law and order of divine Principle, infinite Mind. As this truth dawns upon one, he begins to experience order instead of disorder, the action of divine law instead of lawlessness, and this results not from the mere recognition of the divine order, it is gained by an intelligent sense of divine order and conformity to it.

There are some who seem to expect the establishment of health and harmony to be brought about in Christian Science by some magical process, as it were; but this is not the teaching of our text-book, Science and Health. It is true that wonderful results in the way of healing may be gained through another's understanding of Science. In this way one experiences the operation of the divine law of harmony, but it becomes his duty, and it should be his privilege and pleasure, to extend this activity to all his interests, to everything within the range of his consciousness. There is no inertia in the divine Mind, no irregularity, no failure, and there should be none for the Christian Scientist. Mrs. Eddy says, "Science reveals the possibility of achieving all good, and sets mortals at work to discover what God has already done" (Science and Health, p. 260). Science also teaches the necessity for working as God works,—by reflecting the divine order in orderliness and being a law unto ourselves and others.

It often happens that disorderly mental habits are responsible for ill health, poverty, and confusion. There are probably more who suffer from the results of indolence and self-indulgence than from the more open vices, but Christian Science should overcome these as readily and completely as it does the latter, teaching as it does the splendid discipline of self-denial, and the value of spiritual animation and intelligent activity. Our Leader's article "Improve Your Time" (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 230) has helped many to rise above threatened failure, debt, and disability, by showing them how to "make the most of the present." There is actually time for everything good and a place for everything good, and it is ours to prove this in daily experience. Some one has said that the divine law of his activity was "labor without perturbation, readiness without hurry, no haste, and no hesitation." If difficulties arise, we should not stop to condemn others, or even ourselves, but at once grasp and hold the true sense of God's government,—as including all right activity; and then "go on unto perfection," for this, and nothing less, is the demand of divine law.

Annie M. Knott.

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